8/12 Lamb's quarters, BC Aboriginal title ruling appeal, suing Trump on climate, analog beaver dams, bumblebee plight, democracy watch

 Lamb's quarters

Lamb's quarters Chenopodium berlandieri
Chenopodium berlandieri is widespread in North America, where its range extends from Canada south to Michoacán, Mexico. It is found in every U.S. state except Hawaii. Although widely regarded as a weed, this species was once one of several plants cultivated by Native Americans in prehistoric North America as part of the Eastern Agricultural Complex. (Wikipedia) 

Today's top story in Salish Current:  Lake sampling project helps detect brewing algal bloom 

B.C. to appeal landmark Aboriginal title ruling over Fraser River land in Metro Vancouver
The most recent Indigenous rights and title ruling in B.C. is heading back to court after the province released a statement saying it plans to appeal the decision. The Supreme Court of B.C. ruled last week in favour of the Cowichan Nation on Vancouver Island, granting it fishing rights and Aboriginal title over a parcel of land on Lulu Island in Richmond, B.C. Santana Dreaver reports. (CBC) 

Washington state sues Trump administration for withholding funding to combat climate change
Washington state has filed another lawsuit against the Trump administration — this time for rescinding over $9 million in congressionally approved funds meant to help fight climate change. The lawsuit comes after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May terminated two funding opportunities aimed at preparing for the effects of climate change, saying the programs were inconsistent with President Donald Trump's new priorities. Ruby de Luna and Sami West report. (KUOW) 

Adopt A Stream volunteers build analog beaver dams in North Creek
The human-engineered structures will mimic natural dams in an effort to restore creek health in an increasingly urbanized area. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

Plight of the Bumblebees
A journey into the wild and not-so-wild world of bumblebees and the unintended consequences of domestication. Jude Isabella reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump mobilizes D.C. National Guard, pledges similar crackdown in Democratic cities (Washington State Standard) 
• West Point and Air Force Academy Affirmative Action Lawsuits Are Dropped (NY Times) 
• Judge Tells Trump Officials to Release Funds for Democracy Group (NY Times) 
• Trump taps conservative economist to lead statistics agency (NPR) 
• Over 60,000 Are in Immigration Detention, a Modern High, Records Show (NY Times)
• Pentagon plan would create military ‘reaction force’ for civil unrest (Washington Post) 
  
  
  

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  234 AM PDT Tue Aug 12 2025    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, becoming W 10 to 15 kt early this  afternoon, rising to 15 to 20 kt late. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave  Detail: W 6 ft at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 15 to 20 kt, easing to 10 to 15 kt after  midnight. Seas 5 to 8 ft. Wave Detail: W 8 ft at 10 seconds.

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8/11 Dock, heat, Lynda Mapes, Cowichan tribes, river temperatures, eastern WA groundwater, energy bills, Site C dam, monument fishing, wildfire misinformation, democracy watch

 Dock [Richard Old]

Dock Rumex obtusifolius
Rumex obtusifolius, commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf, dockens or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae. It is native to Europe, but is found on all temperate continents. Wikipedia

Today's top story in Salish Current: Final landing at Elwha brings challenges

Highs in 90s this week around Puget Sound region 
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for most of Western Washington until Tuesday evening. Caitlyn Freeman reports. (Seattle Times)  Heat warnings issued for large sections of southern B.C. Heat warnings include Interior, eastern Vancouver Island and more. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC)

Environment reporter Lynda Mapes dove into Seattle’s Elliott Bay, and found some big changes
An interview with Lynda Mapes about her recent piece for the Seattle Times, "The vibrant world under Seattle’s new waterfront."  Kim Malcomb and John O'Brien report. (KUOW) [Lynda Mapes speaks at Salish Current's "Voices of the Northwest" Knowledge Festival Sept. 9 in Bellingham.]

Cowichan tribes win title to Richmond land, fishing rights
Landmark ruling grants decedents of the Cowichan Nation title to lands surrounding historic fishing village in Richmond, B.C.; rights to fish the south arm of the Fraser River. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) 

How NASA satellites help researchers better understand NW river temperatures
Using satellite remote sensing to measure water temperature has been heavily underutilized, but UW graduate student George Darkwah has developed an open-source tool and website, called Thermal History of Regulated Rivers, or THORR. Courtney Flatt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting) 

Eastern Washington’s rapidly declining groundwater highlighted in new study 
The Washington State University study evaluated groundwater levels throughout the Washington portion of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System, which spans areas of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and supplies up to a third of the region’s irrigation water. Researchers found that the Odessa region and the Yakima Basin in eastern Washington are seeing groundwater levels drop by at least 2 to 3 feet per year. The declines in those areas are primarily attributed to a combination of groundwater overuse and climate variability. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Rising electric bills: How states are tackling Big Tech's energy demands 
Amid rising electric bills, states are under pressure to insulate regular household and business ratepayers from the costs of feeding Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers. Marc Levy reports.  (Associated Press) 

Site C dam energy project now fully operational, B.C. Hydro says
Power utility says sixth and final generating unit on hydroelectric megaproject in northeast B.C. now online. (CBC) 

Commercial fishing in a vast Pacific nature area is halted after a judge blocks a Trump order
Commercial fishing that recently resumed in a vast protected area of the remote Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument must halt once again, after a judge in Hawaii sided this week with environmentalists challenging a Trump administration rollback of federal ocean protections. Jennifer Cinco Kelleher and Audrey McAvoy report. (Associated Press) 

AI images of B.C. wildfire fuel misinformation
Experts warn of a 'supercharged' era of misinformation, as AI-generated images are increasingly shared on social media. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Hegseth reposts video featuring pastors opposing women's right to vote (AP) 
• Trump's executive order gives political appointees control over all federal grants (AP) 
• Trump removes Billy Long as IRS commissioner less than 2 months after his confirmation (AP) 
• In Election Cases, Supreme Court Keeps Removing Guardrails (NY Times) 
• Asylum-seekers thought they were following the rules. Now some are told to start over (NPR) 

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Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  242 AM PDT Mon Aug 11 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 15 kt, backing to NW late. Seas 4 to 6 ft.  Wave Detail: W 7 ft at 10 seconds. Widespread dense fog early this  morning, then patchy fog late this morning.  
TONIGHT  NW wind 5 to 15 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. Wave Detail: W 7  ft at 11 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/8 Tiger lily, Fraser sockeye, Okanagan sockeye, Meritt Herald, GPT-5, democracy watch, week in review

 

Tiger lily

Tiger lily Lilium lancifolium
Tiger lily has bright orange flowers with dark speckled spots in late summer. The stems stand 4 feet tall with up to 10 unscented flowers per stem. This species is native to Guam, China, Korea, and Japan. Although this species does not produce viable seeds, many small aerial bulblets known as bulbils are produced in the leaf axils along the stem. A bulbil will produce flowers two years after it is collected from the stem. The bulbs are edible, and these plants have been cultivated in Asia as a food crop. The bulbs are said to taste like turnips when cooked. The flower is also edible but the pollen is toxic and can induce vomiting. Because these plants were historically cultivated for food, it is likely that Lilium lancifolium is a result of breeding and selection rather than a naturally occurring species. (Chicago Botanic Garden)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Whatcom’s LEAD program offers lifeline, faces limits

Record number of early sockeye recorded in test catch in Johnstone Strait
On July 31, 14,550 sockeye were caught on the Johnstone Strait test fishery boat — the highest July daily catch recorded since test fishing began. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Okanagan Sockeye Could Face ‘Catastrophic Loss’ This Year
Last year, 491,000 sc̓win made it over Wells Dam in Washington along the Columbia River. This year is predicted to see just 12 to 16 per cent of that number. Warm river conditions in the Okanagan River, downstream from Osoyoos Lake, are impeding the species’ ability to migrate back upstream to spawning grounds throughout the river’s network of waterways. Aaron Hemens reports. (The Tyee) 

120-year-old B.C. newspaper purchased by local Indigenous-owned corporation
A 120-year-old publication in B.C.'s Interior has been purchased by an Indigenous-owned corporation that says it is determined to represent and uplift the community it serves. The K'en T'em Limited Partnership says it has purchased the Merritt Herald, which was founded in 1905. Jacqueline Gelineau reports. (CBC) 

OpenAI launches GPT-5, a potential barometer for whether AI hype is justified
OpenAI on Thursday released the fifth generation of the artificial intelligence technology that powers ChatGPT, a product update that’s being closely watched as a measure of whether generative AI is advancing rapidly or hitting a plateau. GPT-5 arrives more than two years after the March 2023 release of GPT-4, bookending a period of intense commercial investment, hype and worry over AI’s capabilities. Matt O'Brien reports. (Associated Press)

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/8/25: Zucchini Friday!, Baker R sockeye, Trump's EPA, drinking LOTT wastewater, sea star killer, WA oil refineries fined, BC fault, Mount Polley mine, Great Barrier Reef coral. 

Democracy Watch

• US Air Force to deny retirement pay to transgender service members being separated from the service (AP) 
• Judge blocks Trump’s birthright order nationwide in fourth such ruling since Supreme Court decision (AP) 
• Trump Delayed a Medicare Change After Health Companies’ Donations (NY Times) 
  
  

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Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  248 AM PDT Fri Aug 8 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 9 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds.  
SAT  W wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at  11 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to N after midnight. Seas  3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.  
SUN  NE wind around 5 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 8 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/7 Canoe Journey, Mount Polley mine, boat recycling, AK drilling and mining, Great Barrier Reef coral, custom microbes, democracy watch

Snapdragons

Snapdragons Antirrhinum majus 
Snapdragons are popular perennials usually grown as annuals with a short-lived blooming period. The name comes from the shape of the individual flower heads, which look like the snout of a dragon. (The Spruce)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Mentoring musicians in Whatcom County

Final landing at Elwha brings challenges during celebratory year
While harrowing waters initially proved to be an issue for the success of this year’s canoe journey, protocol still brought an opportunity for Coast Salish tribes to represent their communities under one sky. Carrie Johnson reports. (Underscore Native News) 

Mount Polley Can Continue Tailings Expansion, BC Supreme Court Says
A B.C. Supreme Court justice has dismissed the Xatśūll First Nation’s request to overturn a provincial decision allowing the expansion of the Mount Polley mine’s tailings facility. Amanda Follett Hosgood reports. (The Tyee) 

Proactive boat recycling saves Washington waterways and resources
There are at least 300 derelict vessels sitting in state waterways. Twenty-nine vessels were recently removed from the Salish Sea and brought to a Bellingham recycling facility to be broken down as part of a state program aimed at preventing a growing environmental crisis. Eric Wilkinson reports. (KING) 

Trump's push for drilling, mining in Alaska creates divides among Natives about sacred land
When Alaska Natives debate proposals to drill, mine or otherwise develop the landscape of the nation’s largest state, it involves more than an environmental or economic question. It’s also a spiritual and cultural one. Peter Smith reports. (Associated Press) 

Great Barrier Reef records largest annual coral loss in 39 years
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record-keeping, Australian authorities say. Rod Mcguirk reports. (Associated Press) 

Better Living Through Biochemistry
Scientists are creating custom microbial microbiomes to solve environmental problems, like cleaning up microplastics and restoring trashed agricultural soil. Emma Marris reports. (bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• After deep DOGE cuts, National Weather Service gets OK to fill up to 450 jobs (AP) 
• Trump’s Redistricting Campaign Tests His Power in the States (NY Times) 
• Trump calls for U.S. census to exclude for the first time people with no legal status (NPR) 
• Gabbard overrode CIA officials’ concerns in push to release classified Russia report (Washington Post) 

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Here's your tug weather—West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  251 AM PDT Thu Aug 7 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft  at 10 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt, easing to around 5 kt after  midnight. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 4 ft at 10 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/6 Wolf spider, Anacortes refineries fined, BC fault line, gray wolves, Hawaii tourism tax, democracy watch

 Wolf Spider

Wolf Spider Lycosidae
These larger, speedy hunters are known for pouncing on prey as they find it or even chasing down prey for short distances. Wolf Spiders mostly live and hunt alone, and they don’t spin webs. The Wolf Spider’s favorite hunting grounds include wooded areas, coastal forests, alpine meadows, suburban gardens, shrublands, and homes. Though they do not climb very well, they do run very fast. They prey on insects that are walking or resting on the ground. During the warmer summer months, the Wolf Spider will try to escape the hot weather and move inside homes or structures where they can find dark places and cool temperatures. (Eastside Exterminators)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Friday Harbor scientists research eelgrass ‘superpowers’

Two WA oil refineries fined over $1.3M each for mishandling of sludge and acid waste
Two oil refinery operators in northwest Washington, HF Sinclair and Tesoro, have been hit with fines for improper management of oily sludge and acid waste at their facilities. Washington’s Department of Ecology said Tuesday that HF Sinclair would be penalized $1,303,000 and Tesoro $1,397,000 for violations of dangerous waste laws. Both companies run refineries located in Anacortes. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard)  Also: State penalizes Anacortes refineries for dangerous waste violations (Skagit Valley Herald) 

Another B.C. fault can produce megathrust earthquakes
Confirming the megathrust fault line off Haida Gwaii offers a path to improve tsunami modelling in a zone that has produced Canada's two largest recorded earthquakes. Stefan Labbé reports. (Times Colonist) 

Court ruling could lead to more gray wolf protections in eastern Oregon, Washington
Nothing changes for now, but a federal judge has asked the US Fish and Wildlife Service to look more carefully at a decision to deny the animal Endangered Species Act protections. Courtney Sherwoods reports. (OPB) 

In Hawaii, new tourism tax aims to offset costs of climate change 
A new “green fee,” proposed by Gov. Josh Green and passed through the legislature on May 2, is now the first of its kind in the country. It aims to raise some $100 million each year by marginally hiking tourism levies from 10.25% to 11%, costing Hawaii’s 10 million annual tourists an average of $2 per day. And unlike most tourism taxes, which fund such infrastructure as roads and public transportation, the revenue raised through the green fee will go exclusively to environmental projects, be they beach and coral reef restoration efforts or the removal of fire-prone grasses. Gordy Megroz reports. (Bloomberg) 

Democracy Watch

• RFK Jr. cancels $500M in funding for mRNA vaccine development (AP) 
• US Voting Rights Act faces a murky future on its 60th anniversary (AP) 
• Voice of America director says Trump officials are illegally ousting him (NPR) 
• Crucial exemption allows majority of Canadian and Mexican goods to be shipped to US without tariffs (AP)

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  240 AM PDT Wed Aug 6 2025    
TODAY  SE wind 5 to 10 kt, veering to SW this afternoon. Seas  3 to 5 ft. Wave Detail: W 5 ft at 11 seconds. Showers with a  slight chance of tstms early this morning, then a chance of rain  late this morning. A chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W  4 ft at 10 seconds. A chance of showers.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/5/ Wolf eel, sea star killer, renewable energy lab cuts, Antarctic krill fishery, democracy watch

 

Wolf eel

Wolf eel Anarrhichthys ocellatus
A large fish and not a true eel, this species ranges from the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan to the Krenitzen Islands, in the Aleutian chain, and to Imperial Beach, southern California. Adults live on the bottom, usually among rocks in subtidal areas. They often occupy only one den, unless they are driven out by a larger wolf eel or a large octopus. They have been found at depths up to 226 m (740 ft). Wolf can grow up to 240 cm (7.87 ft) in length, and 18.4 kg (40.5 lbs) in weight. The maximum lifespan of a wolf eel is not known. Age at maturity occurs at 4 to 7 years, suggesting these may be long-lived fish. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Canoe families complete journeys via treacherous waters /Canoe journey: the Paddle to Elwha has begun

Unmasking the Sea Star Killer
After a decade of carnage, we finally know what’s devastating sea stars along North America’s West Coast. Does that mean scientists can save them? Craig Welch reports. (bioGraphic) 

Trump, Congressional Republicans propose big cuts for Western renewable energy labs
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory would lose a third of its funding, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory would lose more than half. Alex Baumhardt, Emily Fitzgerald and Chase Woodruff report. (Oregon Capital Chronicle) 

Officials shut down remote krill fishery in Antarctica early
Trawling near Antarctica for krill has more than quadrupled in the past two decades and this season, for the first time, it reached its seasonal catch limit, triggering the unprecedented early closure of the remote fishery. Joshua Goodman reports. (Associated Press) 

Democracy Watch

• Inside Trump’s New Tactic to Separate Immigrant Families (NY Times) 
• Judges Openly Doubt Government as Justice Dept. Misleads and Dodges Orders (NY Times) 
• Marjorie Taylor Greene Asks for George Santos’s Sentence to Be Commuted (NY Times) 
  
  

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  255 AM PDT Tue Aug 5 2025    
TODAY  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less, then around  3 ft this afternoon. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 12 seconds. A slight  chance of showers early this morning, then a chance of showers  late this morning. Showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  E wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 9 seconds. Showers.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/4 Northern alligator lizard, Baker R sockeye, bye-bye Big Bird, Trump's environment, LOTT wastewater, logging input, WA forest management, 'Bee Atlas,' democracy watch

 

Northern alligator lizard [WDFW]

Northern alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea
The northern alligator lizard inhabits grassy, brushy or rocky openings within forested landscapes. They have also been observed along road corridors and near lake edges. They can persist in low to moderately developed landscapes where they are typical seen in rock retaining walls, rock piles, woody debris and along building foundations. Northern alligator lizards occur in the Pacific Coast, Puget Trough, North Cascades, East Cascades, West Cascades, Okanogan and Rocky Mountain ecoregions. The species enters the Columbia Plateau ecoregion in Spokane and Whitman counties. (WDFW)

Today's top story in Salish Current:  A grand opening on Grand

Baker River sockeye storm back in record run — overcoming 2 dams 
...The Baker [River] was beckoning in a record run this summer. At least an estimated 90,000 sockeye will return from their high-seas journey to feed the land, forest, bears, osprey, human families — and spawn the next generation. It was an extensive intervention over decades after Puget Sound Energy’s largest hydropower operation nearly drove these fish to extinction. The complex series of concrete ponds, chutes — and even an elevator, a fish taxi and a hatchery — that the salmon need to navigate are far from what the river’s original runs traversed, but it’s working. Isabella Breda reports. (Seattle Times) 

Not just Big Bird: Things to know about the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and its funding cuts
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps pay for PBS, NPR, 1,500 local radio and television stations as well as programs like “Sesame Street” and “Finding Your Roots,” said Friday that it would close after the U.S. government withdrew funding. The private, nonprofit corporation was founded in 1968 shortly after Congress authorized its formation. It now ends nearly six decades of fueling the production of renowned educational programming, cultural content and emergency alerts about natural disasters. Audrey McAvoy reports. (Associated Press) 

How Trump Is Transforming the U.S. Government’s Environmental Role 
The E.P.A. said this week it would revoke its own ability to fight climate change. It’s the latest move in an extraordinary pivot away from science-based protections. David Gelles and Maxine Joselow report. (NY Times) 

LOTT Clean Water Alliance wants to make wastewater drinkable. Are you ready for that?
The wastewater utility in downtown Olympia that treats millions of gallons of sewer water per day, in partnership with the South Puget Sound Community College’s brewing and distilling program, aims to use about 500 gallons of that treated water to make beer and other beverages for the public to try. Rolf Boone reports. (The Olympian) 

Oregonians could soon have less input on more than half the land in the state
The Trump administration has proposed drastically limiting the public’s say in how federal lands are used at a time when the president is pushing to fast-track logging, mining and oil extraction. People have until Monday to comment on a Trump administration proposal to drastically limit public input on logging in Oregon and Washington. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB) 

In wildfire-prone Washington, ‘collaboration’ on forest management gives way to timber interests
Forest collaboratives formed in the wake of the Pacific Northwest’s “Timber Wars” have become major power players operating largely out of the public eye. Moe K.Clark reports. (Investigate West) 

‘Bee Atlas’ project turns up 26 new or rare species buzzing around Washington
The Washington State Department of Agriculture is seeking new bee collection volunteers as its Bee Atlas initiative enters its second year.... The Washington Bee Atlas is modeled after the Oregon Bee Atlas, which began in 2019 as part of the broader Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas. That program began in 2018 and monitors bumble bee activity in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Democracy Watch

• Justice Department's requests for voter data raise alarm in some states (AP) 
• Supreme Court signals it may rule on law protecting power of minority voters (Washington Post) 
• Senate confirms former Fox News host Pirro as top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital (AP) 
• Judge Declines to Order Trump Administration to Restore Research Cuts (NY Times) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  200 AM PDT Mon Aug 4 2025    
TODAY  SE wind around 5 kt, backing to NE late this morning,  backing to W this afternoon. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 7 seconds. Widespread dense fog early this morning, then  patchy fog late this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft in the evening,  then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 seconds. A  chance of rain after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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8/1 Black Sabbath, Canoe Journey, North Slope drilling, saving bumblebees, whale rescue, First Nations LNG, Columbia R talk, democracy watch, week in review

Black Sabbath was an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969, they distinguished themselves through occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and down-tuned guitars. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Local organizations unionize, await new contract 

Elwha welcome canoes for final stop in journey
With white caps on the sea, canoes battled strong currents to reach Elwha Beach on Thursday for the final landing of the 2025 Canoe Journey Paddle to Elwha. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Trump administration seeks to revoke limits on oil drilling in parts of Alaska’s North Slope
The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Thursday that it will revoke three documents intended to form the basis for limits on oil drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Those documents, and the limits themselves, were issued in the last year of President Joe Biden’s administration. James Brooks reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Keeping the Northwest’s buzz alive: saving the western bumblebee
One of the Northwest’s most common animals has all but disappeared from much of the region....Washington has 28 native species of bumblebees, with eight of them, including the western bumblebee, in some degree of peril, conservation-wise. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Juvenile humpback whale ‘stronger and energetic’ after recent rescue 
Biologists are tracking the recovery of a juvenile humpback whale rescued from a life-threatening entanglement in the Salish Sea, even as Canadian officials have received reports of more entangled humpbacks in British Columbia. Jeff Rice reports. (Puget Sound Institute) 

LNG Project Comes with Financial Risks for First Nations: Report
Drawbacks for the Prince Rupert initiative outweigh benefits for environment and investor, says Yellowhead Institute. Sonal Gupta reports. (National Observer) 

Columbia at a Crossroads: fish wars, dam removal and climate change
Seattle Times Environment Reporter Lynda Mapes and her colleagues share the story of their four-month journey along the great river of the West, the Columbia. In-person talk, Aug. 12, 5:30 p.m., Seattle Public Library. Register for free. 

Democracy Watch

• Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American history museum (Washington Post) 
• Judge extends TPS for 60,000 from Central America and Nepal (AP) 
• In reversal, Defense Department will continue providing crucial satellite weather data (NPR) 
• Trump’s big proposed cuts to health and education spending rebuffed by US Senate panel (Washington State Standard) 
• USDA proposes closing regional Forest Service offices in Portland, moving work to Colorado, Utah (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 8/1/25: World Wide Web day, missing birds, clearcutting and floods, greenhouse gas rollback, drinking PFAS, fossil fuel subsidies, WA voter pessimism, OR wind, Helion fusion. 

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Here's your weekend tug weather—West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  203 AM PDT Fri Aug 1 2025   TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft this morning, then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 6 seconds. Areas of dense fog. 
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at  6 seconds. Areas of dense fog in the evening, then widespread  dense fog after midnight.  
SAT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 6 seconds. Patchy fog.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 6 seconds. Patchy dense fog in the afternoon.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/31 Black mondo grass, WA climate policies, OR offshore wind, Helion fusion, LNG Canada, stream buffering, democracy watch

 Black mondo grass

Black mondo grass Ophiopogon planiscapus 
Ophiopogon planiscapusis a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is a small evergreen perennial growing to 20 cm tall by 30 cm wide. It grows from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of grasslike leaves, from which purple or white flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. (Wikipedia)

Today's top story in Salish Current: People of the pier: walking Little Squalicum

Washington state climate policies face headwinds as Trump aims to ax regulations
Fighting climate change in Washington state could get more difficult if a Trump administration proposal becomes law. Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin announced the proposal to overturn what’s known as the "endangerment finding" — and the anti-pollution laws it enables. John Ryan reports. (KUOW) 

Federal government rescinds Oregon’s offshore wind energy area
The Trump administration is rescinding more than 3.5 million acres of designated wind energy areas nationwide, effectively ending a yearslong effort to generate wind energy off the Southern Oregon Coast — for now. Nearly 195,000 acres off the Southern Oregon coast were previously identified as sites for offshore wind development. Monica Samayoa reports. (OPB) 

Everett-based Helion breaks ground on ‘world’s first fusion power plant’
On the banks of the Columbia River in the small town of Malaga, Washington, Everett-based Helion has broken ground on what it says is “the world’s first fusion power plant.” Helion, a nuclear fusion startup backed by Big Tech, said the facility is prepared to begin delivering electricity generated by nuclear fusion by 2028 — and Microsoft has already purchased all of it. Monica Nickelsburg reports. (KUOW) 

Shell-led LNG Canada faces problems as it ramps up production, sources say
Shell-led LNG Canada is experiencing technical problems as it ramps up production at its liquefied natural gas plant at Kitimat, B.C., with one LNG tanker diverting away from the facility without the super-chilled fuel in recent days, according to four sources who spoke to Reuters and LSEG ship tracking data. Marwa Rashad, Curtis Williams, and Amanda Stephenson report. (Thomson Reuters)  

Hearing set for stream buffering
The Washington Forest Practice Board and the state Department of Ecology will meet next Monday to collect comments on a new proposed forestry rule. which would dictate how much buffering is required around non-fish-bearing streams. Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

Democracy Watch

• US Senate confirms Joe Kent to lead a national intelligence agency (Washington State Standard) 
• Decline in belief Black adults face discrimination: AP-NORC poll (AP) 
• Trump administration announces new private health tracking system with Big Tech’s help (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  440 AM PDT Thu Jul 31 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 7 seconds. Areas of dense fog  this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/30 Red-winged blackbird, tsunami, fossil fuel subsidies, WA voter poll, sea cukes, Little Bear Cr., Green Cedar LNG, democracy watch

 Red-winged Blackbird [Connor Charchuk]

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
One of the most abundant birds across North America, and one of the most boldly colored, the Red-winged Blackbird is a familiar sight atop cattails, along soggy roadsides, and on telephone wires. Glossy-black males have scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches they can puff up or hide depending on how confident they feel. Females are a subdued, streaky brown, almost like a large, dark sparrow. Their early and tumbling song are happy indications of the return of spring. (All About Birds)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Summer programs ground youth in the natural world

Tsunami warnings fade after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded. 
One of this century’s most powerful earthquakes struck off the coast of Russia and generated tsunami warnings and advisories for a broad section of the Pacific, including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast and as far south as New Zealand. Warnings are being downgraded in most areas, though advisories remain in place as more aftershocks are possible. Chile upgraded its tsunami warning to the highest level for most of its 6,400-kilometer (4,000-mile) Pacific coastline. (Associated Press) 

What we know about fossil fuel subsidies in Canada
Billions are given to oil and gas corporations each year, including loans, tax breaks and more. Exactly how many billions is a matter of debate. Drew Anderson reports. (The Narwhal) 

Poll: Washington voters are ‘pretty pessimistic’ about the future
For only the second time in Cascade PBS/Elway poll history, respondents anticipate things will get worse for the country, the state and themselves. Laurel Demkovich reports. (CascadePBS) 

'Unbound by laws': B.C. court gives man 6 years for illegal sea cucumber fishing 
Scott Steer also fined $1.1M after long history of fishing violations in B.C. (Canadian Press) 

County wins award for Little Bear Creek wetland restoration
The 17-acre site in Snohomish County will compensate for future wetlands impacted by transportation projects. Eliza Aronson reports. (Everett Herald) 

B.C. government accused of 'greenwashing' as it announces $200M to electrify LNG project 
The B.C. government is taking heat from the B.C. Green Party and a political science professor following its announcement of $200 million in subsidies for an upcoming LNG project majority owned by the Haisla Nation. The Cedar LNG project, a collaboration between Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corp. and the Haisla First Nation, is a floating liquefied natural gas export facility off B.C.'s North Coast set to come online in 2028. Akshay Kulkarni reports. (CBC) 

More on blackberries
Reader Wendy Scherrer shares from 2016 "The Strange, Twisted Story Behind Seattle's Blackberries" (NPR)

Democracy Watch

• Senate confirms Trump lawyer Emil Bove for appeals court amid whistleblower claims (AP) 
• In a first, the Senate confirms a new CDC director (NPR) 
• US economy rebounds strongly in the second quarter with 3% growth (AP) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  224 AM PDT Wed Jul 30 2025    
TODAY  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt. Seas around  3 ft this morning, then around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft  at 6 seconds. Patchy dense fog early this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft at 6 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/29 Himalayan blackberry, greenhouse gases, Canada PFAS, Big Quilcene R., Mt. Benson transfer, democracy watch

Himalayan Blackberry

 
Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacus
Himalayan blackberry can grow in mixed and deciduous forests and a variety of disturbed sites such as roadsides, railroad tracks, logged lands, field margins and riparian areas. It does well in a wide range of soil pH and textures. It is a notorious invasive species in many countries around the world and costs millions of dollars for both control and in estimated impacts. This species spreads aggressively and has severe negative impacts to native plants, wildlife and livestock. (Noxious Weed Control Board)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Fight continues against sea star wasting disease

EPA set to unravel U.S. authority to regulate greenhouse gases
The Trump administration is set to announce its plans to abolish the U.S. government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases, threatening to strike a deep blow at Washington’s ability to fight climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency will unveil a proposal as early as Tuesday to scrap a landmark determination that planet-warming gases endanger public health and welfare, according to people familiar with the matter. If finalized, the move would lay the foundation to unwind a host of regulations limiting emissions from power plants, oil wells and automobiles. Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Ari Natter report. (Bloomberg) 

Canada wants cities to start filtering toxic forever chemicals from public drinking water, but that’s no easy feat.
Jaela Bernstien reports on the challenges facing water utilities as they try to adapt to new PFAS guidelines. (CBC) 

Grant funding to aid project 
A major floodplain and salmon restoration project on the Big Quilcene River as been approved to move forward. Elijah Sussman reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

700 hectares of land on Mt. Benson transferred to Snuneymuxw First Nation
About 700 hectares of land on Mount Benson west of Nanaimo has been transferred by the province to Snuneymuxw First Nation, who plan to use the area for forestry operations. The lands, known as Mount Benson North, were earmarked for the First Nation under a 2020 reconciliation agreement that will see more than 3,000 hectares of land returned to Snuneymuxw. Michael John Lo reports. (Times Colonist) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump Administration Issues Guidance on Religious Freedom at Work (NY Times) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  232 AM PDT Tue Jul 29 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, rising to 10 to 15 kt late. Seas  around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 6 seconds.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  2 ft at 6 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/28 Blackeye goby, canoe journey, WA wildfires, fewer birds, WA extreme drought, clearcutting and floods, democracy watch

Blackeye Goby [MaST Center Aquarium]

 
Blackeye Goby Rhinogobiops nicholsii
True to its name, blackeye gobies have prominent black eyes, and a black tip to their first dorsal fin. They can be found throughout the nearshore northeast Pacific from Alaska to Baja California. They are a relatively small fish, reaching a maximum length of just 6 inches. (MaST Center Aquarium)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Why vote? Primary results affect our daily lives / Truth and news: film series spotlights today’s issues 

Canoe Journey: The paddle to Elwha has begun
Canoe families from across the Salish Sea and beyond have begun their annual canoe journey, this year paddling to Elwha where the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe will host for the first time in 15 years. Nika Bartoo-Smith and Carrie Johnson report. (ICT) 

Drop in state funding for WA’s work to prevent severe wildfires is stoking concerns
The state’s top public lands official is urging lawmakers to restore the spending to previous levels after they cut it by about half this year. Emily Fitzgerald reports. (Washington State Standard) 

Where did the birds go? Why Oregon’s spring was quieter than usual
Some Oregon birdwatchers say this spring was strangely quiet – and the data backs that up. April Ehrlich reports. (OPB) 

USDA designates three counties primary natural disaster areas
Three Washington counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Asotin, Garfield, and Whitman Counties are now considered to be in a state of “extreme drought” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. (Dept. of Ecology) 

Clearcutting tied to 18-fold increase in flood risk: UBC study 
A new study from the University of British Columbia suggests that clearcut logging can make catastrophic floods up to 18 times more frequent. The study, published in the Journal of Hydrology, analyzed long-term data from one of the world's longest-running forest research sites in North Carolina, the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory. Shaurya Kshatri reports. (CBC) 

Democracy Watch

• Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people (Washington Post) 
• Why building owners don’t want the EPA to ditch Energy Star (Bloomberg) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  325 AM PDT Mon Jul 28 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt, becoming NW 10 to 15 kt this  afternoon. Seas around 2 ft or less.  
TONIGHT  W wind 10 to 15 kt, easing to 5 to 10 kt after  midnight. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at  6 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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Turkey vulture, BC mills, cedar bough theft, Great Bear Sea, democracy watch, week in review

 

Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
The most widely distributed vulture in the New World, the Turkey Vulture is a large, predominantly blackish-brown bird. It is most commonly seen soaring overhead. The Turkey Vulture has a 5- to 6-foot wingspan and soars with its wings tilted up, in a dihedral pattern. Unlike most birds, Turkey Vultures have a well-developed sense of smell. As they soar over foraging areas, they scan the ground, searching for carrion or scavengers that might signal the presence of something dead. When they locate food, they eat it in place. (BirdWeb)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Nonprofit reintroduces bluebirds to San Juan

BC Wants Value-Added Mills. We Discovered a Big Obstacle 
Why does so much community forest timber end up as wood chips instead of higher-end products? Ben Parfitt reports. (The Tyee) 

Cedar boughs and bark are being harvested illegally. What's the impact?
Cedar bough and bark theft can lead to closures of state property. It harms the trees. It also hurts traditional cultural carvers, like Vincent Feliciano Jr. He’s a member of the Lummi Nation. Courtney Platt reports. (NW Public Broadcasting)

Welcome to the Great Bear Sea
After decades of discord, Canada and First Nations are working together to build a network of marine protected areas stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska. Serena Renner reports.(bioGraphic) 

Democracy Watch

• U.S. Quietly Drafts Plan to End Program That Saved Millions From AIDS (NY Times)
• WA sues contractor to prevent sharing of food stamp data with feds (Washington State Standard) 

Salish Sea News Week in Review 7/25/25: Carousel Friday, gas spill, shooting owls, EPA staff cuts, LNG exports, WA outdoor school, EPA climate, steehead ESA, PFAS. Rayonier cleanup, AI at Sea. 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your weekend tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  239 AM PDT Fri Jul 25 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 4 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 7 seconds. A slight chance of showers this afternoon.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT  W wind around 5 kt, rising to 5 to 10 kt in the afternoon.  Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SAT NIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave  Detail: W 2 ft at 8 seconds.  
SUN  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 2 ft or less. Wave Detail:  W 2 ft at 6 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



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7/24 Creeping jenny, PFAS, Rayonier cleanup, Tofino rentals, AI on the seas, green energy projects, Ocean spray, democracy watch

 

Creeping jenny [Gardenista]

Creeping jenny Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping jenny is a species of flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. Its common names include moneywort, creeping jenny, herb twopence and twopenny grass. (Wikipedia) With some plants there is a fine line between friend and foe and lots of ground covers, by their very nature, fall into this category. Useful plants that will cover banks or unsightly, “tricky” areas can be prone to rapidly colonizing areas too, smothering everything in its path. (Gardenista)

Today's top story in Salish Current: Trail development continues on Stewart Mountain

Cleaning up toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in Washington isn’t easy
They get the nickname for a reason: PFAS, manmade chemicals linked to health concerns, don‘t break down easily. But limiting their use is complicated. Connor Zamora reports. (CascadePBS) 

Port Angeles wants full site cleanup
The Port Angeles City Council is in favor of a complete, timely cleanup of the Rayonier Mill site. The council voted 5-0 to direct staff to write to the state Department of Ecology following a special meeting Tuesday night. “What is happening is unconscionable,” Deputy Mayor Navarra Carr said. “It’s been my whole lifetime that this project has been going on, and it will be another lifetime.” Emily Hanson reports. (Peninsula Daily News) 

‘The Town Will Fail if This Carries On’
Tofino’s council wanted to regulate short-term rentals. But then the pushback started. Nora O’Malley reports. (The Tyee) 

AI Observers Hit the High Sea
New AI analysis systems can count fish and identify species. Could they be key to making fisheries safer and less destructive? Sarah Tory reports. (bioGraphic) 

Trump administration cancels loan guarantee for green energy project 
The Trump administration on Wednesday canceled a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee for a new high-voltage transmission line for delivering solar and wind-generated electricity from the Midwest to the eastern U.S., but the company indicated that project would go forward anyway. John Hanna reports. (Associated Press) 

More on Ocean spray
Wendy Scherrer writes regarding yesterday's plant feature: Ethnobotany: Ocean Spray (or Ironwood) is what the Lummi/Coast Salish folks make skewers to cook salmon over a fire pit or BBQ. "Noted for the strength of its wood, it was often used for making spears, arrows, bows, harpoons, nails and digging sticks. The wood was often hardened with fire and was then polished using horsetail. It was also used to make cooking tools, because won’t burn easily. According to  The Jamestown S’Klallam Story, “Women favored ironwood for the digging stick they used. The stick needed a sharp point, gentle curve and a good grip. Most were three to six feet long, with a curved shaft and fire-hardened pointed end. This tool was essential for digging butter clams, horse clams, cockles off the beach, the roots of ferns, wild carrots, wild onions, or the bulbs of camas and tiger lilies.”


Democracy Watch

• Court finds Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional (AP) 
• Supreme Court allows Trump to fire 3 Democrats on consumer safety panel (NPR) 
• Trump’s AI Action Plan removes ‘red tape’ for AI developers and data centers, punishes states that act alone (Washington State Standard) 
• ICE moves to shackle some 180,000 immigrants with GPS ankle monitors (Washington Post) 

Have you read the Salish Current? 
Independent, fact based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties. Community supported, free from ads. Read the latest weekly newsletter here.

Here's your tug weather—
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  223 AM PDT Thu Jul 24 2025    
TODAY  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W 3 ft  at 8 seconds. Widespread dense fog early this morning, then  patchy dense fog late this morning.  
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 10 kt. Seas around 3 ft. Wave Detail: W  3 ft at 7 seconds.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email msato(at)salishseacom.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.



savesalishsea@bluesky.social

Salish Sea News: Communicate, Educate, Advocate



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